Pharmacy Mission for Discharge Prescriptions tomorrow completed August 26 2011

Faye Hummel had to go down to the University of Colorado Hospital Atrium Pharmacy twice with my long list of discharge medications, but she "gotter done". I wanted to get this all lined up before tomorrow which is Saturday and everyone knows things are harder on the weekend.

The Pharmacy did not initially have all the orders, but after a trip upstairs and the help of Nurse Kelly and Pharmacist Jeff, the orders were sent down to the Pharmacy. Thank you friend!!!! Faye told me that she liked going down to the Pharmacy, because while she waited, she went out in the sunshine and warmed up - EVERYONE thinks it is freezing in my hospital room. Here is Faye while she visits :)

Medications  I'll be taking on discharge:

• Neuopogen injections daily to stimulate my bone marrow to mobilize stem cells for 2nd round of stem cell harvest beginning September 6 2011
• Claritin antihistamine which may help to reduce bone pain associated with Neupogen use
• Fragmin injections daily to prevent deep vein thrombosis
• Criprofloxacin antibiotic to prevent infection
• Acyclovir to to prevent shingles
• Fluconazole to prevent fungal injection
• Omeprazole (Prilosec) to treat acid ingestion
• Zofran to treat nausea
• Zantac for acid ingestion
• Ativan for nausea
• Celebrex to treat bone inflammation
• Thalidamide just through Days 2-6 (Day 2 was August 24, Day 3 was August 25, Day 4 August 26, Day 5 August 27, and Day 6 will be August 28)
• Stool softeners and constipation aids as necessary
• L-Glutamine Protein Powder to prevent neuropathy
• Vit. B12, B6 to prevent neuropathy
• Calcium with Vit D3 for osteopenia
• Levothyroxin for low thyroid
• Baclofen for migraine prevention
• Lovastatin for high cholesterol
• Percocet for pain as needed only

Revlimid Presciption Refill July 14 2011

My Revlimid prescription Refill was to arrive UPS (have to sign for it) by 3 PM today, July 14 2011. My sister, Jani, waited at home for the UPS driver all day while I went to chemotherapy. When the medication had not arrived by 3 PM, I called the pharmacy and was told that it was still out for delivery. At 5:15 PM, the medication had still not arrived and I called the pharmacy again because we are leaving in the morning for Idaho and no one will be home to receive the medication if it doesn't come today!  I was told again, that it was out for delivery and would be there. Finally, just after 6 PM, the big brown UPS truck rolled down the street and I signed for the Revlimid refill that I won't start until July 26th on the first day of my Cycle 3 Velcade/Decadron/Aloxi. I was so glad it arrived and now I don't have to worry about it.

Refilling Revlimid Prescription July 13 2011

I've spent more than a couple of hours on the phone sorting out how to have my Revlimid prescription refilled. On Monday, July 11 2011, I called the pharmacy that provided my first prescription of Revlimid and they indicated that they needed Dr. Moore to call in the prescription. I notified Dr. Moore and he immediately had his nurse call in the prescription.

The next day the pharmacy called me to tell me that my medical insurance would prefer I use another pharmacy for my Revlimid. So, I called that pharmacy and went through a LONG and DETAILED initial sign-up over the telephone. A nurse coordinator from the pharmacy called me today and we went through my entire medical history. Arranged to have the refilled Revlimid prescription sent to me tomorrow via FedEx. Someone has to be home to sign for it.

Then, I got an automated call that there was a problem with tomorrow's delivery and to call them back. I called again the average wait time before real person answers has been 10 minutes or so. This time, they said they had confirmed that I had completed the Cell Gene Customer Care Survey for Revlimid which I did on June 16 2011. The Cell Gene Customer Care Survey has to be completed every 6 months to ensure that I will not become pregnant or let anyone, especially pregnant females touch the Revlimid. Revlimid is a form or thalidomide which has been shown to cause significant birth defects! The confirmation was made and the scheduled delivery is for tomorrow.

The whole point of this post is that it "complicated" to work through the system and I wonder how older folks or folks not feeling that well negotiate the system~